NBA Post Season - Eastern Conference

Well first off let me congratulate the Miami Heat for winning the 2011 NBA Title. Once the new Big Three lead by the regular season and NBA Finals MVP LeBron James defeated the Oklahoma Thunder (which has a Big 3 nucleus of their own) in five games, they went into free agency and reloaded. Ten years ago they were teammates in Seattle now they're reunited in Miami. The edition on Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis gives the Heat more scoring options if James, Wade, and Bosh are double teamed. General Manager Pat Riley still             needs to address his ball club's bench but then again, their week bench are NBA Champions.

Who is the best team in the Big Apple? My vote goes to the Brooklyn Nets formerly of New Jersey. Not only did they keep superstar point guard Deron Williams, but they also pulled off a trade to land all-star shooting guard Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks. They backcourt is one of the best in the league and they have yet to play a game together. Keeping Gerald Wallace and re-signing Brook Lopez was also a step in the right direction as I believe Brook Lopez will turn into a better center than Jokim Noah & Andrew Bynum. Their counter part New York Knicks have also made impact signings but which version of New York Knicks will show up. Today the Knicks signed Raymond Felton and last week inked future Hall of Famer Jason Kidd from Dallas. Kidd no longer possesses the same speed as he did the last time he played on the East Coast but his court vision is still the same. If they're offense turns stagnant once Carmelo Anthony gets the ball, they'll remain the Knicks.

My Chicago Bulls drafted ultra quick point guard Marquis Teague  to temporally replace Derrick Rose. Drafted Teague is a steal. Both Rose & Teague had the same college coach and had the same pro-style system while in school. Last week the Bulls agreed to resign Captain Kirk which could be a good and bad thing for Marquis. Signing Hinrich is temporary until Rose return from and ACL injury but hopefully Kirk will come off the bench for Marquis Teague. I'm finally glad CJ Watson is gone to New Jersey but hopefully they can re-sign Kyle Korver for his deadly shooting. The 2012-2013 is washed but lookout for the Bulls to challenge Miami once a healthy MVP Derrick Rose returns.

It's been a while I've been busy traveling the west coast along with working on several political campaigns but I'M BACK!!!!! Where to begin with basketball. It's been so long that the college basketball season is over, the high school all stars games are wrapping up, the NBA Playoffs are about to begin and several teams will be Gone Fishin' next week.

Congratulations to the Kentucky Wildcats for winning the NCAA Title. This team was built for this year only as Coach Cal aka One&Done reloaded with a trio of freshmen All-American led by Anthony Davis, Marcus Teague, and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. This Tuesday the starting 5 of the Kentucky all declared for the NBA and as a result, all five are 1st round picks and Coach Cal will reload with a brand new crop of freshmen. Plus NC State transfer Ryan Harrow will run the point next season. For next season in college hoops, I'm looking forward to seeing Shabazz Muhammad play for UCLA.

The NBA Draft Lottery takes place next month and unlike the 2011 Draft, this years draft class is one of the most in-dept draft class in years!!!!! Plenty of talent all around and I'll blog about the draft and NBA Playoffs next round Peace!!!!!!

Another week in Hoops

My time in Los Angeles draws to a close but just because I'm on the west coast I've clearly been following what's going on in the basketball world. I finally got a chance to hoop in LA and the game is just as I anticipated. Strictly fast break without the flash-n-flare ball handling skills that's displayed in Chicago as well as the NYC. Overall I stand my claim Chicago truly does have the best ball players my city has the best overall players in the country and have the most heart. Let it be known the NBA MVP does hail from the Windy City.

Speaking of the Windy City, props to Derrick Rose for being pissed of at the Indiana Pacer for celebrating on the United Center floor after defeating the Chicago Bulls earlier this week. The rest of the club should have been just as upset Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen would have not allowed the other team to celebrate on our home court. Once again that just shows the Chicago mentality when it comes to basketball WE DO THIS!!!!!!!!

I have no idea what's going on with my Fighting ILLINI?!?!? It seems once they're ranked, that's when they start losing. This team is young but it starts and ends with Meyers Leonard who needs to become more dominant in the post. The legit 7'0 center has pro potential but is not using his skills at all times. DJ Richardson & Brandon Paul have shown promise but still this teams needs to do better or they'll end up in the NIT like they did two years ago.

The D-League of College Basketball aka the Kentucky Wildcats are once again #1 in the nation. The Cats are clicking and Anthony Davis is playing like 2012 #1 NBA pick that everyone projects. Expect this group to cut down the nets in April.

Good Week in Hoops

Still two months away from March Madness and three months before the NBA playoffs but basketball on every level has become very interesting. The powerhouse teams remain that...a powerhouse while the Washington Wizards remain the Washington Generals of the NBA. What else happened last week:

• Going into the MLK weekend Simeon (Chicago, IL) was undefeated and ranked the top HS team in the country until they ran into Findlay Prep of Las Vegas. All year long Findlay Prep felt they were disrespected for not being ranked #1 but Simeon did deserve to be ranked the cream of the crop. Chicago Public League basketball is very competitive and players have to be strong physically and mentally. Some players go away to prep schools (most notably in the New England) to improve their grades but CPS basketball especially the Red South & Red West divisions are just as tough. Congrats to Findlay Prep but if a rematch were to occur, Jabari Parker & co. will walk away the victors. 

• Only teams that will compete for the NBA title are the Bulls, Heat, Thunder. Kenny Smith suggested that the NBA Playoffs format should be the same as the NCAA tournament in March. If that's the case that eliminates Oklahoma City and the NBA Finals would consist of the Bulls and Heat. All three teams reach the conference finals last season with only the making it to the NBA Finals. Each teams has a year of expereince but the difference is OKC PG Russel Westbrook still has a low PG IQ and the Heat have yet to add a solid PG to support LBJ, Bosh and Wade. Bulls are the next team to visit President Obama count on it!!!!!!!!!!

• Syracuse continues to win. Congratulation to their best start in school history by starting out 20-0. With formers stars like Derrick Coleman, Sherman Douglas, John Wallace, Rony Seikly, Johnny Flynn, Carmelo Anthony, this group is off to the best start in school history. Baylor started of 17-0 until their 20 point loss to Kansas last night. The Baylor Bears are still my pick to reach the Final 4. Baylor Bear have another tough challenge when they face Missouri on Saturday.

THIS WEEK IN HOOPS

With Syracuse Orangeman raining as the consistent #1 team in hoops, Simeon the best high school team in the country, the NBA going on it's third week with the Bulls & Heat the best two teams in basketball.....HOOPS IN FULL SWING!!!!!!!

Tom Cream has his Indiana Hoosiers back to college hoops relevance. So far this year they're the only team to defeat the #1 (Kentucky) and #2 (Ohio State) team the same season. The scary part is next year's Hoosier class is scary. It was only a mater of time before the former Marquette coach to turn a program around. I still think he's the next Spartan coach once Tom Izzo bolts for the NBA.

Miami Heat I just don't get them. Earlier this week they loose to the Atlanta Hawks at home then turn around and beat the same Hawks at full strength in triple overtime on Thursday. The amazing part was Miami played without LeBron James or Dwayne Wade who sat out with injures. With a year under their belts, the Heat would not shock anyone if they made it back to the NBA Finals. Speaking of Atlanta, on Tuesday they played a thriller in the United Center dominating the entire game until the forth quarter where Derrick Rose had to show Jeff Teague why he's the reigning MVP. These two teams square off tonight in Atlanta.

Speaking of the Bulls other than Miami, they're the most consistent team in the NBA. Coach Tom has my team playing with a chip on their shoulder as well as they should. Finishing with the best record in basketball last season they should waltz through the Central Division until they face the Heat in the East Finals.  

Congrats to Keith Smart for the new coaching gig in Sacramento. Now that Paul Westphal is out of town, hopefully DeMarcus Cousins will listen to this coach instead of being labeled a headcase. The young former Wildcat does have talent and worked hard on his game this summer. Speaking of talent, that's all John Wall appears to be relying on which is the reason why his Wizards are the only win-less team in basketball. He & Russel Westbrook need to broaden their basketball IQ and become a better point guard.

While I'm thinking about making the transition to Los Angeles full-time, I'm going to the Staples Center this Wednesday to checkout the Clippers play the Heat.